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THE CHRISTIAN NATION.
Vol. ei.
appointment. And it is serviceable to note
that He esteemed them adapted to and sufficient
for praise services at this height of
New Testament ordinances, the institution
of the Supper. He provided no new songs.
Lightfoot well says, "He who could have inspired
every disciple to be a David, sings
the Psalms of David."
5. The Psalter is uniformly recognized
by the Gospels and the Acts as the praise
book. We read of the "Psalms," and the
"Book of Psalms." It should be easy to understand,
therefore, what praises are meant
when James says, "Is any merry, let him
sing Psalms," and when Paul exhorts to say,
"Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs." 6.
Most writers hence acknowledge that the
Psalms are designed to be sung. Jonathan
Edwards says, "God gave the Church a book
of divine songs for singing His praises
throughout all ages to the end of the world."
Albert Barnes writes, "The Psalms are intended
to be sung, not read." 7. The contents
of the Psalter have distinct New Testament
appointment as the hymn book of the
Christian Church. Its place was not vacated
by the new dispensation. We are commanded
to sing "Psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs." No one questions that the term
"Psalms" in the texts in Ephesians and Colossians
refer to the Psalter. Some, however,
say the terms "hymns and spiritual songs"
have reference to other and mere human
compositions, and therefore the Church may
make and sing them. It is to be noted, however,
that the texts give no hint they were
to be made. It is assumed they were already
in existence. The heathen churches to which
the command was given could not be expected
to obey a command to make such
praises. They did not naturally have the capacity,
and no inspired men were raised up
to fulfill such a direction for them. In point
of fact it was a long time before any one
construed the texts as referring to other
songs than those of the Psalter, and then
it was by notable heretics. Besides, there
is just as much reason to say the "Psalms"
mentioned were to be newly made as the
"hymns and spiritual songs." It is, moreover,
not conceivable that the apostle would
put inspired Psalms on the same level as
praise with merely human effusions, and
call both the "Word of Christ" when he says,
"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,
teaching and admonishing one another in
Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts unto the Lord."
By most critics it is allowed that these compositions
are all found in the Psalter. The
Septuagint or Greek version, was the one
in common use, and all these terms are found
in the titles of its compositions. Even some
English titles, translated from the Hebrew,
point in the same direction. Ps. 18 is called
a "Psalm-song;" Ps. 30 is called a "song;"
the name of the whole collection may be rendered,
"the book of hymns." Hymn singers
have no real trouble about the appropriateness
of these terms since they put the Psalms
in their books and call them "hymns" or
"spiritual songs." Even the Encyclopedia
Britannica, accessible to many readers, gives
the same view: "All the words thus used
were applied by the LXX. (Septuagint translators)
to the Davidical Psalms." The term
"spiritual songs" is acknowledged by such
competent scholars as Barnes, Meyer, and
Warfield, to mean only compositions inspired
by the Holy Spirit, just as were the Gospels
of Matthew and John. This is unquestionably
correct. It follows that these songs are
not human and that Paul's reference was
to the inspired Psalter. 8. Divine appointment
is necessary to legitimate worship.
Hence the Confession says, "But the accept-
• able way of worshipping the one God is instituted
by Himself, and so limited by His
revealed will that He may not be worshipped
according to the imaginations and devices
of men." We cannot, therefore, add to the
number of the Sacraments, or separate our
devotions from the merits of Christ, neither
can we rightly supersede the Psalter He has
appointed, by human
praise.
hymns, in rendering
TOPICS POR THE WEEK OP PRAYER.
The World's Evangelical Alliance suggests the
following topics for the Week of Prayer:
Sabbath, January Srd, 191.5. Texts suggested
lor Sermons and Addresses. "I in them, and
Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in
One."—.John xvii, 23. "By one Spirit we are all
baptized into one body."—1 Cor. xii. 13. "If we
walk in the light as He is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another."—1 John 1. 7. "He
prophesied that Jesus . . should gather together
in one the children of God that were scattered
abroad."—John xi. 52. "The supplication of
a righteous man availeth much in its working."—
James v. 16 (R.V.).
Monday, January 4th, 1915. "Thanksgiving and
Humiliation." THANKSGIVING—Por those gathered
home last year In the faith of Christ, and
for those added to the Lord by means of the
preaching of the Gospel. Por the victories obtained
during the year by prayer and testimony,
and for the gracious and manifold answers to the
petitions of God's people. Por the unshaken assurance
that our Crucifled Lord is on the Throne,
and for the increasing vision of His purpose. Por
the entrance of the saving message into almost
every land, and for the widening of the bounds
of the Kingdom of God in the world. HUillLIA-
TION—Por our slowness in responding to the
great call of our day, and our neglect of opportunity.
For our culpable ignorance of our neighbors'
need; our blindness to injustice and tyranny;
our silence in face of wrong; our selfish contentment
while others suffer. For such pride as
has been in our witness; selfwill in our activities;
unbelief in our prayers. For the slender influence
of the Church upon the world; the increase
of pagan thought and conduct; the debasing
accompaniments of fashion and amusement;
the neglect of public worship; the prevalence of
vice and worldliness. Scripture Readings: Psalm
Ixv.; Isaiah Iviii.; James iv.
Tuesday, January Sth, 1915. "The Church Universal—The
'One Body' of which Christ is the
Head." THANKSGIVING—That Christ loved the
Church and gave Himself for it, and that all who
share in His redemption are members of His
Church. That in Eastern lands the hope of nationwide
churches has been given to Christ's followers,
and that in Western lands dividing walls are
being lowered. That in touch with a world withour
Christ, the call to union in Christ has become
more insistent. That by conference and fellowship
new ties between the Lord's people are being
wrought, and new love for each other fostered.
That the former days are speaking of
God's grace, and that the future years are beckoning
us on. PRAYER—That wisdom and patience
may be given to those who seek the welfare
of the whole flock. That in God's good ordering
light may arise upon the dimness of ancient
churches that have departed from their earl.vji
faith. That the memory of the martyrs may stir
us to greater fidelity;that the Word so precious
to them may be precious to us; and that the Holy
Spirit Who made them brave may make us bold
to serve and to suffer. Especially that the memory
of John Huss, who, five hundred years ago,
on July 6th, 1415, was slain for Christ, may this
year be a blessing to Bohemia and to the world.
That in ways unknown to us, the Living Spirit
may draw the members of Christ together, and
that each part of the Church may be more ready
to confess its own faults than to proclaim the
failings of others. Scripture Readings: John xvii.
14-26; Eph. iv. 1-16; Psalm cxxii.; Rev. xix. 7-16.
Wednesday, January 6th, 1915. "Nations and
their Rulers." THANKSGIVING—That in spite
of war, a deeper desire for peace is possessing
the nations. That Christian ethics are being more
and mre applied to the relations between nation
and nation. That the welfare of backward races
is being safeguarded; that slavery is being abolished;
that the traffic in ardent spirits is being
circumscribed. PRAYER—That the nations of
Europe may recognize more fully their responsibility;
prejudice and jealousy be lessened; peace
promoted; and the coming and reign of Christ
hastened. That the rising nations of the East
may be delivered from the mistakes and failures
of the West. That those who are accounted to
rule among the Gentiles may be increasingly conscious
that their power is delegated, and may rule
in the fear of the Lord. That those in places of
influence, whether as Kings, Governors or Magistrates,
Leaders or Writers, may be under the
control of the Holy Spirit. Scripture Readings:
1 Tim. ii. 1-S; 1 Peter ii. 13-25; Psalm il.; Romans
xiii.
Thursday, January 7th, 1915. "Missions, and
the Jews." THANKSGIVING—For increase of
unity in the efforts of the church of Christ in
ilission lands. For the determination born of
that unity to confront together the whole problem
of iMissions, and by faith and unity to seek
to solve it. For the spreading recognition of the
claim of the great 'Commission, and the increase
of interest and gifts. Por the circulation of the
Scriptures, and the consequent blessing. IN­
TERCESSION—For all Missions to the Jews, and
for the ancient people of God, that they may be
enlightened, delivered from oppression, and ingathered
to their Messiah. For ilissions to Moslems,
and for the peoples who are in danger of
being overwhelmed by the Mohammedan advance.
Por the Churches in Mission lands, that they may
be delivered from the errors and schisms of the
past, be kept pure in life, and loyal to the Word
of God. For the language schools of the East,
where missionaries of many Societies study sil5
by side; and for Missionary Societies, that they
may never be forgetful that their great work is
the Evangelization of the world. Scripture Readings:
Psalms Ixvii.; Isaiah xlix. 3-13; Acts i. 1-S:
Eph. iii. 1-10.
Friday, January Sth, 1915.
"Families, Schools